News Releases

Director Masters Speaks At International Homeland Security Conference

Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Executive Director Michael Masters was part of a delegation of U.S. officials participating in Israel’s third International Conference for Homeland Security (Israel HLS 2014) this week. The conference is drawing police chiefs and homeland security officials from around

As the mercury dips below freezing, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) reminds residents to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and their families.

Residents should follow these tips during cold weather to keep themselves and their families safe:

The Cook County Board approved the largest Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan (HMP) ever completed in the United States at today’s county board meeting. Cook County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) spearheaded the HMP planning process.

The Cook County Board and the county’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) honored a group of students and coaches from the Oak Park River Forest High School wrestling team during the county’s monthly board meeting today. More than two dozen students and coaches were on hand to represent the wrestling team while a resolution was read highlighting the students’ efforts to assist the town of Washington, Ill. after it was devastated by a tornado on Nov. 17, 2013.

The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) invites residents to review and comment on the county’s draft Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) in a series of public meeting beginning tonight.

Under the leadership of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, DHSEM has worked diligently with area municipalities and other partnering agencies to formulate the HMP to address severe weather events and other natural hazards.

Cook County Assists Municipalities with Flood and Disaster Preperation

One year ago, municipalities around Cook County were devastated by flooding. The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) worked with area first responders and emergency managers to help communities respond to and recover from the effects of the floods.

​Last weekend’s storms reminded Illinois residents the extent and kind of damage a weather event can cause. While Cook County escaped serious damage, it’s been impacted in the past by snowstorms, tornadoes and other natural incidents, including the damaging floods in April.

That is why the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is developing a comprehensive Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to prepare for natural disasters and their impact.

A coalition of Cook County cities, villages and agencies are creating a comprehensive hazard mitigation plan to prepare for natural disasters and their impact. The coalition was formed to pool resources and create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy.

The plan is to reduce the county’s vulnerabilities to natural hazards, such as floods, snowstorms and tornadoes, to protect the health, safety, welfare and economies of communities in Cook County.

In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed a cybersecurity resolution, to train and educate county employees to safeguard against cyber threats. The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Cook County Bureau of Technology are collaborating with SANS Institute and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) to provide federally-funded training to the county’s workforce.